The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival puts its ancillary sets in the green spaces of the blocks where Bird lived, which is how a founding member of Yerba Buena ends up singing in a volunteer-run garden on East 12th Street. Xiomara Laugart brings the Cuban trova authority that carried her through the Off-Broadway Celia Cruz musical; Reverse Audio, her son Axel Tosca's trio, pushes it toward timba and R&B. Free, an hour long, and the most intimate jazz in the city that night.
What to expect
El Sol Brillante is a narrow strip of a garden, so the band sets up close and the audience sits on whatever is available. The set moves between Cuban song forms and the trio's timba-leaning jazz, with piano and drums doing the heavy lifting behind Laugart's voice. Expect a neighborhood crowd, garden volunteers doing the introductions and no barrier between you and the players.
Good to know
- The garden is on East 12th Street between Avenues A and B — the L to First Avenue or the 6 to Astor Place both work.
- Seating is limited to whatever the garden has, so bring a folding chair or a blanket if you want a guaranteed spot.
- It is all ages and free with no ticket, but arrive early because the space fills long before the downbeat.
- Community gardens close at dusk and have no indoor backup, so check the forecast before committing.
- There are no concessions on site; the surrounding Alphabet City blocks handle food and drink.
Get Saturday planned every Thursday
One email a week — the best of the NYC weekend board. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Common questions
Do I need a ticket?
No. It is free, all ages and first-come — the only limit is how many people the garden holds.
How does this relate to the main festival?
It is an official ancillary event of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, programmed in neighborhood green spaces near where Charlie Parker lived.
What happens if it rains?
The garden has no covered stage, so weather can cancel it. Check the presenter's page the day of before you head over.
More this weekend
